Williams helps point receiving corps in right direction

Cutler completes passes to 8 players

Roy Williams was eager to break out his signature move regardless of what kind of reaction followed.

The Bears receiver figured his emphatic first-down signal would go over well with the home crowd as long as he performed well in the season opener.

He did.

"Some people said don't do the first-down sign (and) some people said have fun. So I wanted to have fun," Williams said. "I know the Bears fans didn't like it when I played with Detroit. I didn't like 'Bear Down' either. So it's an even trade."

Fans much prefer the Williams they saw Sunday than the one they saw in the preseason.

Williams caught all four passes thrown his way for 55 yards before exiting with a groin injury. He wouldn't speculate on his status, but he went in for treatment as the locker room cleared.

A healthy Williams might give the receiving corps the boost it needs to take the next step in Mike Martz's offense.

Jay Cutler completed passes to eight players, including all five of his active receivers. Devin Hester, Johnny Knox and Williams all had catches of 20-plus yards. And including running back Matt Forte, four of Cutler's receivers had 55 or more yards, led by Forte's 90.

"We know this offense is designed and thrives on big plays," Hester said. "When we get an opportunity to make those big plays, we've got to make our opponents pay for it. Big plays change the momentum of the game. It seems like when they hit, they just starting hitting. That's what puts defenses on their heels, and defenses start getting nervous when you start giving up big plays."

Hester had the second-biggest play behind Forte's 56-yard touchdown off a screen. The receiver took a short screen of his own, followed blocks from Williams and others and sprinted for a 53-yard gain to the Falcons' 1. He thought he got into the end zone, and the Bears challenged the call but lost.

Cutler then hit tight end Matt Spaeth for a touchdown.

Sunday, the chemistry of the receiving corps was in sync, save some hiccups in the red zone. Martz called plays that utilized the speed he has to work with.

"Y'all asked early in camp if there were enough balls to go around," Williams said. "We're putting in 280 plays a week. There are enough balls to go around."